Method of and apparatus for making nuts



June 17, 1930. c. F. HAMMAN 1,764,300

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING NUTS Original Filed Jan. 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l afzgz wvzi 2 Shgets-Sheet 2 fg 4;, warm June 17, 1930. c. F. HAMMAN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING NUTS Original Filed Jan. 15, 1925 Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED s'rivras CARL FREDERICK HAMIAN, 0]? NEW YORK, N, Y., ASSIGNOB TO CHAPMAN SELF-' PATENT OFFICE LOCKING NUT 00., 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, TRUSTEES OF A COMMON-LAW TRUST ESTATE 7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING NUTS Application filed January 15,1925, Serial No. 2,700, Renewed September 18, 1928.

This invention relates toaniniproved method of and machine for making nuts and is more particularly directed to an improved method of and machine for making lock nuts of the type wherein a blank is folded back upon itself forming, two wings parallel to and spaced from each other, which wings are afterward drilled and threaded and then slightly distorted in respect to each other in order to place the threads on the two parts slightly out of line to cause a binding action on the bolt upon which the nut is threaded. Y

It is an object of this invention to pro- 0 vide an improved method of making folded lock nuts from a continuous strip of material.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved machine and dies for making folded lock nuts from a continuous strip of material.

Still another object of this invention consists in the provision of. an improved method and machine for making folded lock nuts in two operations performing thefirst operation on one, and the second on another nut simultaneously. V a

It is a still further object of thisinvention to provide an'improved method and machine for making folded lock nuts in two operations, performing the first operation on one and the second operation on another nut simultaneously, and including means to aut0- ina'tically transfer the blank atthe conclusion of the first operation into position for the second operation.

in the patent to I. C. Emery, No. 1,516,721, issued November 25, 192%, nuts and method of making them, there is disclosed an improved type of folded lock-nut wherein the metal at the fold is worked and compacted in order to eliminate strains due to the fold ing, and to arrange the grain of the metal between the wings in such a manner that great resilience is imparted thereto so that the lock nuts may be used a number. of times or may be left in position over a long period of time without reducing their efiectivene ss. in looking. In the above patent there is shown diagrammatically a means of forming these nuts, and in the present application it intended to disclose a complete machine and method for making this improved type of folded lock nut.

One means for carrying out this invention 5 Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line 4- of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figures 6 and 7 are elevations of the blank showing the two operations performed on the stock during the first movement of the punch; I

Figure 8 shows the final form of the blank as it emerges from the completion of the second operation; and

Figure 9 is a perspective View of the'completed nut after it has been drilled, threaded and distorted, which last three operations are not performed on the machine disclosed.

The parts disclosed in the drawings are intended for usev in a machine of the punch press type having a die-bed or die support located directly below a plunger mounted on a reciprocating head which is driven con tinuously by any suitable means such as an electric motor. The drive means may, if

desired, be provided with a fly wheel in order to reduce the size of the driving motor in a manner well known in the punch art.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 discloses at 10 the die-bed or support attached to the machine just described and having mounted thereon the bolster plate 11 and the die bolster 12. The reciprocating head of the machine is adapted to support and reciprocate therewith the punch holder 13 which is adapted to slide in vertical guides as is Well known in the art. The dies shown in these drawings are intended to perform two operations on each nut, performing the first on one and the second on another simultaneously, and are shown to be double dies formed right and left hand, adapted to receive the blank material from the same direction, and both feeding the finished prodnot to the center where it drops out through a hole 14 and may be caught in any suitable container. Since the left and right hand dies are substantially identical, a description of one will suflice for both.

The bolster 12 is substantially rectangular in plan and is provided with the four slots 15 adapted for the passage of the holding down bolts which pass through these slots and the bolster plate 11 into the bed 10 of the punch press and serve to rigidly maintain the die against horizontal or vertical movement. The bolster is provided with an elevated portion 16 in the form of a double cross having a plane top. The center of each cross contains the actual dies for performing the various operations upon the blank, and this description will be limited to that shown on the left hand side of the drawings, since as previously explained, the other is substantially identical.

Reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8 will disclose the necessary operations that must be performed upon the material, which, it will be understood, is continuously fed to the machine in the form of a long strip having a width equivalent to that of the width of the finished nut and of a thickness somewhat less than one-half of the total thickness of the finished nut. The first stroke of the punch press cuts oil a blank of suitable length as shown in Figure 6, slightly more than twice the length of the finished nut, and immediately upon this blank being cut, it is pressed down with its center upon a bending i, post, and an indented blanking punch bends it intothe form shown in Figure 7. As the punch is withdrawn, an ejector raises the blank to the level of the top of the bolster, and before the beginning of the next clown.- stroke, it is moved into position, wings down, for the next operation by means of a transfer plunger automatically operated by the dies. The next stroke of the press squeezes the two wings of the nut into a narrow slot and presses them in the direction of their length between a swaging anvil and a swaging punch, keeping throughout this operation a space blade between the two wings of the nut to prevent them from being pressed too closely together. The blank now assumes the shape shown in Figure 8 and is ejected and drops through the hole 14 in the bolster, finished as far as the operations of the machine in question are concerned.

The bending post 17 comprises a thin, narrow vertical strip of hardened steel, slightly tapered in thickness at the upper end and having a rounded tip. It is fitted into a slot in the bending post base 18, which comprises a circular disk, slotted to receive the bending post, and provided with transverse dowel pins 19 passing therethrough and through the bending post to retain it rigidly within the. base. The bending post base is rigidly secured in the bottom of a vertical circular opening 20 in the bolster. Fitting snugly over the bending post and adapted to slide thereon is arranged the ejector 21 comprising a circular base 22 of the same diameter as the bending post base and having extending above the base a rectangular projection 21, having a flat top of a length equivalent to the length of the blank, as shown in Figure 6, and of a width equivalent tothe width of the strip from which the blanks are cut. A slot 23 passes longitudinally through the ejector transversely of the projection 21 and of the full width thereof, and provides a close fitting passageway for the bending post. Between the ejector base 22 and the bending post base 18 are arranged the four coil springs 2% fitting in shallow holes in each part and adapted to normally press the ejector away from the bending post base. In order to limit the upward movement of the ejector there is provided a steel plate 25, square in plan and having slightly rounded corners, which is set in a similarly shaped depression in the bolster considerably below the upper surface thereof. A rectangular hole providing a sliding fit for the upper end 21 of the ejector passes through the plate, and the plate serves with the bending post as a guide to maintain the ejector in a vertical position at all times. The under surface of this plate forms a stop against which the upper face of the ejector base 22 may come to rest under the action of the springs 24.

Beside the bending post and between it and the central opening 14 in the bolster, is arranged the swaging anvil 26 having an enlarged rectangular base 27 adapted to slide in a rectangular slot 28 in the bolster. Between the swaging anvil base 26 and the bottom of'the slot 28 are arranged the two its base 27 en aging the under surface of the plate 25. The swaging anvil proper 26 is a rectangular projection passing through an opening in the plate and having a flat top of a length equivalent to the width of the stock from which the blanks are cut and having a width equivalent to the final thickness of the nut. Projecting vertically upward from the longitudinal center of the swaging anvil and of the same length, is the space blade 30 set into a slot in the top'of the anvil and rigidly secured therein by means of the transverse pins 31. This space blade and the the blocks for the first operation and for the second operation. The separator 32 is a long strip of steel having parallel sides and a widened center portion. The widened portion 36 on the side adjacent the ejector being of a length equivalent to the length of the ejector face and adapted to abut against one side of the ejector and form a side guide therefore. The other side of the separator has a widened portion ness of a finished nut and is adapted to abut against the inner side of the swaging anvil 26. The side guide comprises a block of hardened steel of the same-length as the plate 25 and adapted to fit in the same opening as that plate. It is provided on its side facing the ejector with a widened portion 38 of the same'size and shape and "facing the widened portion 236 arranged on the separator, and the side guide 33 is substantially the same as the side guide 33, but faces in the opposite direction and has a widened portion 39 opposite and similar to the widened portion 37 on the separator. It will be seen from the above description that the three members 32, 33 and 33 provide respectively a central guide and two outer side guides for the ejector and the swaging anvil. This leaves two side faces of each of these parts exposed, and inorder to provide guides for these faces there are provided the pairs of die blocks 34and 35 adapted to fit between the side guides and.

the separator. These die blocks are rectangular pieces of very hard steel of such a width as to fit very tightly between the separator and the side guides and are adapted to'abut against the shoulders formed by means of the extensions 36, 37, 38 and 39,

7 of a length equivalent to the final thick which limit their inward movement so that they do not bind againstthe ejector and the swaging anvil respectively. t has previous ly-been stated that the upper faces of all of these die members flush with the upper faces of the bolster and it will be seen that the two parts 3i and the two extensions 36 and 3'8define a rectangular opening of a width equivalent to the width ofthe stock from which the nuts are cut and of a length equivalent to the length of the blank from which the nut is to be folded, and that the four parts 35, 35, 37 and 39 define a rectangular opening having a length equivalent to the width of the stock and a width equiv alent to the final thickness of the nut. The die blocks 35 are slightly chamfered on their upper corners which face the 0 ening as shown at 42 for .a purpose wich will hereinafter be described. j

The die blocks are adapted tobe held in position and pressed against the shoulders formed by the extensions Z-BG, 37, 38 and :39- by means of the die clamping screws 43 passing horizoiji tally through-the bolster from the opposite sides thereof and adapted to engage the outer faces of these die blocks. It will thus be seenthat when it is desired to sharpen the blocks owing to wear, they may be removed by screwinga pulling member into the threaded holes 44 provided in the tops of these die blocks, and extracting them,when the inner facing sides may be ground off to the proper form. When the blocks are replaced the clamping screws are tightened, thus bringing the blocks against the shoulders and always assuring that the opening'formed between them is of the same size. I In order to prevent the replacing of. the die blocks. 34 and 35 in an interchanged position, the pair of blocks 35 are provided in their under surfaces with the longitudinal slots 45 adapted to fit over the pins 46 driven into the upper face of the plate 25;

The parts of the plate. 25 and the various parts of the die proper just described are retained inth-e bolster against upward moveinent'by being covered by the strippers 47 and 48, the slide cap 49' and the stop plates 50 which are all adapted to be fastened down rigidly to the upper face of the bolster by machine screws passing-through the. various holes shown in them and engaging in threaded openings in the bolster.

The strippers comprise a pair of opposed plateseach having a lei-1 th equivalent to one-half of the width. of the bolster and abutting at their upper faces between the apertures defined bythe dies and having a configuration such that the two of them c.0- fine three sides of vertical continuations of these two apertures, the outer sides of the apertures remaining open tothe level of the face of the bolster. The meeting faces 51 0f the strippers are cut away below the surface to form a tunnel 52 having a shape in elevation similar to that of the outside of a blank after being bent by the first operation, such as shown in Figure 7, in order that the blank may be transferred therethrough from the first punch to the second punch. The rear stripper 48 is provided with a hardened steel stripper plug 53 set into a circular hole bored therein. The stripper plug 53 has an enlarged head 54 adapted to set in a counter bore in the stripper and having its face flush with the lower surface thereof. One side of the head of the stripper plug is flattened as shown at 55 and serves to'define the Outline of the rectangular hole formed by the set of dies which perform the first operation. This stripper plug also forms a stop for the material being fed to the dies, which material is fed through a groove 56 in the lower face of the stripper 47. Means, not shown, are providedto intermittently feed a strip of stock through this groove so that it passes over the left hand opening defined by the dies and stops against the stripper plug face 55.

Rigidly secured to the punch holder 13 are the two punches 57 and 58 fastened to the punchholder by means of the clamp 59 and suitable bolts. The left hand punch as viewed in Figure 1 is the blanking punch more clearly shown in side elevation in Figure 4;. It comprises a rectangular hardened steel bar having a cross section equivalentto the left hand opening defined by the dies and is adapted topass into this opening upon downward movement of the punch holder. Its lower face is at right angles to the direction of its length and is provided transversely thereof with the groove 60 between the walls of which and the bending post the blank obtains its first bend. In order to prevent the blank from sticking in the groove 60 after bending, there is provided a knock-out pin 61 sliding in a central vertical hole in the blanking punch and adapted to be pressed outward into the groove 60 either by means of a spring in the case of the smaller machines or by some positive means such as a cam in the larger machines in order to eject the blank from the groove. The edges 62 of the blank ng punch cooperate with the edges 6 3 of the die blocks 34 to shear off a blank from the stock being fed from the groove 56. cutting it to the length and size shown in Figure 6. It is then clamped between the bottom face of the blanking punch and the upper face of the ejector 21. Continued downward movement of the blanking punch presses the center of the blank upon the tip of the bending post18. and the side walls of the groove 60 in the blanking punch bend the blank around the bending post until at the end of the stroke of the punch it assumes the shape shown in Figure 7 Upon the return movement of the blanking punch the knock out pin 61 pushes the blank out of the groove 60 and leaves it resting with the lower ends of the two wings thereof on the top surface of the ejector 21. If the blank does not. stick in the punch it is merely lifted on the ejector under the action of its springs to the level of the top of the bolster.

Before the completion of the final upward movement of the blanking punch it is necessary hat the blank be transferred into a position to receive the second operation which is performed by the right hand set of dies and their corresponding swaging punch 56. The transfer of the blank is offected by means of the transfer plunger (ll, which comprises a hollow steel tube, having a hardened steel tip (35 with an enlarged head, fastened in the tube by means of the transverse pin 66. The opposite end of the tube is supported in the transfer slide (37 in which it is held by means of the pin 68. The transfer slide comprises a rectangular block of steel seen in plan in Figure 3 and having its lower surface resting and adapted toslide on the top surface of the bolster. The transfer slide is guided for nwveincnt lougitiulinally of thebolster by means of the slide cap l9 which has a. groove in its under surface of a width to snugly engage the sides of the transfer slide and of a length to allow freedom of movement of the slide. The inner corners of the slide cap are chamfered as at (39 to engage against similarly chamfered.corners on the strippers 47 and 48 and it is securely bolted down to the bolster. A slot is pro vided through the slide cap of such a width and length as to readily allow the passage therethro-ugh of the cam 71 which is mounted on and'moves with the punch. holder. This cam comprises a strip of metal rectangular in cross section depending vertically from the punch holder, then bent at an angle substantially 45 inward toward the die, then again bent downward in a vertical direction to provide the cam faces 72 and 73 respectively which serve to project and withdraw the transfer slide. The outer face of the upper portion of the cam slides over the cam thrust block 71 mounted on the slide cap, in order to provide a backing for the cam during the transfer of the blank and prevent it-from bending. To accommodate the cam, the transfer slide is provided with an aperture 74; passing therethrough at an angle of 45 and of a width equivalent to the thickness of the cam. In

order to accommodate the vertical portions of the cam 71, the edges of this inclined hole are cutaway vertically as shown at 75 and 76. Figure 1 will clearly illustrate the method of operation of the transfer sliic for it will be seen that upon downward movement of the punch holder, the slide will be retracted, withdrawing the transfer plun er and leaving a clear passage for the blanking punch 57 which cuts and bonds the bl k as previously described. Upon upwerd movement a punch holder, the

01 the cam face 72 engages the right hand wall of the opening in the transfer slide and pro jects this slide to the right so that the tip of the transfer plunger engages the sides of the cent blank resting on top of the ejector 21 and pushes the blank through the tunnel 52 leaving it straddling the space blade 30 on the s aging anvil which is now in its uppermost position. The transfer plunger is spaced suliiciently above the faces of the di s to allow the stock to be fed thereund s that during the transfer proca fresh portion of stock'is being fed ready for the next movement of the blanking punch.

A cnt and parallel to the blanking .5 arranged the swaging punch 58 a reduced end adapted to pass th small opening provided and b the dies. The reduced end of punch of a cross section to snugly lit liis opening and has a fiat lower face 77.

1 e conclusion of the transfer operation which leaves a blank bent in the form shown in F igure '7 straddlingthe space blade Ill? and with the outer edges of the two wi. restii-ig on the chemfers 42 of the (lie bio; as the downward movement of the mulch holder again takes place and two operations are performed sinudteneous ly. ("be blanking punch performs the op eration already described, while the swaging punch pressing on the fold or neck of the blank causes the wings thereof to be squeezed together, owing to the incline of the chanifered faces 42, and pressed within the enlargements 3'7 and 3E). Continuing this movement, the base 27 of the swaging anvil comes against the bottom 78 of its guide recess and further movement of the aging punch presses down upon the folded neck portion of the blank and causes it to assume a square formation filling the hole between the dies with the blank material and compressing and densifying the material at the fold. are prevented from being pressed too closely together by means of the space blade 30 and the portion of the blank connecting the wings is compressed and worked so that the grain of the metal flows in the proper direction to give the maximum streng h and rigidity to the nut as previously described.

Owing to the upsetting process through which the nut passes, it fits tightly between the dies, and considerable force must he applied to the swaging anvil to force the nut up to the level of the top of the dies. The

The wings of the blank springs 29 cannot be relied'on for this, so they are augmented by the knock-out pin 79 having-the enlarged head 80 which provents it IIOIII passing through the hole provided in the bolster for the shank of the knock-cut pin 79 to reciprocate in. A push rod Sli'having the same diameter. as the shank of the knock-out pin is mounted for reciprocation in the bolster plate 11 and is provided at its lower end with a pair of forked arms 82 between which is pivoted the'cem roller 83 adapted to be engaged by the cam 84 moiuited on the shaft 85 and driven synchronously with the punch from any sui able means. This shaft 85' is timed to bring the lobe 86 of the cam into action to cause the lance z-out pin 9 to lift the swaging anvil and cause the nut blank to follow behind the returning swaging punch 58 so that at the conclusionof this operation the blank other blank is moved from the blankingv punch to the swaging punch by means of the transfer plunger, and this partially finished blank serves to displace the finished blank from the space blade and itself assume that position.

The tunnel 52 extends not only beneath the abutting portions of the strippers, but also beneath those portions of the, strippers forming the two sides of the hole through which the swaging punch passes incrder to allow the blank in the form shown in Figure 7 to assume its position straddling, the space blade. lln order to prevent the blank from moving too far, due to the momentum imparted to it by the transfer plunger the stop plates 50 are provided which are of the irregular shape shown in Figure 2, but have the vertical edges 87 formed by the meeting faces 88 and 89. The faces 90 of the stop plates abut the chamfered corners of the strippers, and the two faces 89 of the stop and the side guide 33 are provided with a groove in plan the same width and shape as the groove defined by the two faces 89 of the stop plates, but increasing in depth from substantially zero at the edge of the side guide defining the opening, to af'considerable depth where it connects with he hole 14 in order that the nut blanks may readily slide by the action of gravity down this chute and drop into the hole.

From the foregoing it will be clear that this invention provides a novel form of die for the manufacture of folded nuts. But one embodiment thereof has been disclosed but it will be understood that various modifications thereof, including the grouping of a plurality of dies in one bolster, may be made and it is intended that the invention shall only be limited by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of making folded lock nuts having two wings connected by a neck consisting in intermittently cutting and partially folding blanks from a continuous strip of metal in one operation, transferring said blank wings down into position over a die to receive a second operation and there completing the folding and densifying the metal of the neck by pressure thereon.

2. The method of making folded lock nuts in two operations consisting in cutting and partially folding a blank to form two diverging wings from a strip of metal in the first operation, transferring said blank wings down over a die to receive a second 7 operation, there pressing on the last portion thus completing the folding and at the same time performing the first operation on a. succeeding blank.

3. The method of making folded lock nuts, having parallel wings and a connecting neck, consisting in the first operation of cutting a blank from a strip of metal and folding it with the wings divergent, then transferring the blank into position, wings down, over a die to receive a second operation, there applying pressure directly to the neck in the direction of the'bisector of the angle formed by the wings to complete the folding, continuing said pressure to swage and densify the material of the neck and maintaining the wings parallel to each other.

4. The method of making folded lock nuts, raving two parallel wings and a neck in two operations consisting in automatically and intermittently cutting and partly folding a blank from a continuous strip of metal in the first operation, automatically ejecting said blank at the conclusion of said operation, automatically transferring said blank into position wings down over a die for the second operation before the begin ning of the succeeding first operation, there completing the folding and densifying the metal of the neck by direct pressure thereon and at the same time performing the succeeding first operation on a second bank.

5. The method of making folded l ck nuts having two parallel wings and a connecting neck, in two operations consisting in automatically and intermittently cutting and folding a blank, with the wings divergent, from a continuous strip of metal in the first operation, automatically ejecting said blank at the conclusion of said operation, automatically transferring said blank into position wings down over a tapered die for the second operation before the beginning of the succeeding first operation, there completing the folding and densifying the metal of the neck by direct pressure thereon while the wings abut a stop, at the same time performing the succeeding first operation on a second blank, ejecting both blanks, transferring said second blank and displacing said first blank.

6. Mechanism for making folded lock nuts, in combination, means for feeding a strip of metal, a blanking die, a bending post beneath said die, an ejector surrounding said bending post, a blanking punch adapted to cooperate with said .die to cut a blank from said strip and clamp the same between said ejector and punch, and means on said blanking punch cooperating with said pendin post to bend said blank.

7. Mechanism for making folded lock nuts, in combination, means for feeding a strip of metal, a blanking die having cutting edges at the top thereof, a bending post beneath said cutting eoges, an ejector slidably mounted around said bending post and having its top normally level with the cutting edges of said die, a blanking punch adapted to cooperate with said cutting edges to cut a blank from said strip of metal, means on said punch cooperating with said bending post to'bend said blank and means to release said bent blank from said punch.

8. Mechanism for making folded lock nuts in combination, a blanking die, a reciprocating blanking punch cooperating with said die to cut blanks from a, strip of metal, a bending post below said die, means on said blanking punch to bend said blank over said bending post, a spring pressed ejector slidably mounted beneath said blanking punch to at all times press said blank against said punch and means carried by said punch to release the blank therefrom.

9. Mechanism for making folded lock nuts, in combination, a swaging die having an opening with a tapered entrance and parallel sides,'a swaging punch mounted for reciprocation above and through said opening, a swaging anvil mounted for reciprocation in said openingand means to feed a partially bent blank between said anvil and punch. i I

10. Mechanism for forming folded lock nuts, in combination, a swaging die having an opening with a tapered entrance and parallel sides, a flat end swaging punch mounted'to reciprocate above and into said Ill:

opening, a swaging anvil mounted for reciprocation in said opening, an enlarged base on said anvil below said opening, a stop below said base and means between said step and base to normally maintain the top of said anvil flush with the top of said die.

11. Mechanism for forming folded lock nuts, in combination a bending and swaging die having an opening with a tapered entrance and parallel sides, a swaging punch mounted for reciprocation above and into said opening, aswaging anvil reciprocally mounted in said opening, a stop limiting the downward movement of said anvil, means normally retaining the top of said anvil flush with the top of said die, and a space blade projecting above the top of said anvil. V

12. Mechanism for forming folded lock nuts, incombination, a bending and swaging die having an opening with a tapered entrance and parallel sides, a swaging punch mounted for reciprocation above and intosaid opening, a swaging anvil slidably mounted in said opening, means limiting the movement of said anvil under the action of said punch, means limiting the return movement of said anvil, means normally r taining said anvil with its top level with the top of said die, and positive means to return said anvil to said normal position after each stroke of said punch.

13. Mechanism for forming folded lock nuts including in combination a pair of spaced dies having openings therein, a punch to enter each opening, a bending post and ejector in the first of said openings, a swaging anvil in the second of said openings, strippers covering said dies and a tunnel through said strippers connecting said openings.

14. Mechanism for forming folded lock nut-s including in combination. a pair of spaced dies having openings therein, a punch to enter each opening, a bending post and ejector in the first of said openings, a swagin anvil in the second of said openings, strippers covering said dies, a tunnel through said strippers connecting said openings and a transfer plunger-adapted to periodically pass over said first opening and through said tunnel. V

15. Mechanism for forming folded lock nuts including in combination a pair of spaced dies mounted in a die bolster, a vertical opening in each die, a punch holder reciprocally mounted above said bolster, a punch on said holder to cooperate with each die, a bending post and e ector n the first of said openings, a swaglng anvil in the second of said openin s, strippers covering said dies, a tunnel through said strippers between said dies, a transfer slide mounted for reciprocation along the faceof said bolster, and a transfer plunger carried by said slide transfer plunger and adapted to pass over said first opening and through said tunnel.

16. Mechanism for forming folded lock nuts including in combination a pair of spaced dies mounted in a die bolster, a vertical opening in each die, a punch holder reciprocally mounted above said bolster, a punch on said holder to cooperate with each die, a bending post and ejector in the first of said openings, a swaging anvil in the second of said openings, strippers covering said dies, a tunnel through said strippers between said dies, a transfer slide mounted for recip rocation along the face of said bolster, a carried by said slide and adapted to pass over said first opening and through said tunnel, and a cam mounted on said punch holder and cooperating with said transfer slide to cause its reciprocation before and after said'punches cooperate with said dies. 7

l7. Mechanism for forming folded lock nuts including in combination a pair of spaced dies having openings therein, a punch to enter and ejectorin the first of said openings, a swaging anvil in the second of said openings, strippers covering said dies, a tunnel through said strippers coi'mect-ing said openings, spaced stop plates abutting said strippers adjacent said second opening, forming between them an open, topped continuation of said tun-nel but restrictin the width thereof.

18. Mechanism for forming folded lock nuts including in combination pair of spaced dies mounted in a die bolster, a ver tical opening in each die, punches reciprocally mounted to cooperate with said dies, a bending post and ejector in the first of said die openings, a swaging anvil in said second opening, strippers covering said dies, holes in said strippers above said openings, a tunnel connecting said holes, a feed channel in the bottom of one of said s rippers for the passage of the strip material from which the nuts are formed and a hardened stripper plug opposite said feed channel.

' 19. In a device for forming folded lock nuts, in combination a bolster, a pair of de pressions in said bolster, a larger (shallow depression connecting and forming an ex tension of said pair of depressions, a bending post and ejector havinga reduced upperend, in one of said pair of depressions, a swaging anvil having an enlarged. lower end in said other depression, a plate in the bot-- tom of said shallow depression apertured for the passage of said ejector and anvil,

dies mounted in said shallow depression above said plate and having their upper surfaces flush with the upper surface of said bolster and strippers fastened to said bolster and retaining said dies in position a 20. In a stamping and foldingdevice in each opening, a bending post combination, a die bolster, a depression in the face thereof, a plate in the bottom of said depression, a separator dividing said depression into two' parts and extending into grooves in said bolster, a side guide parallel to and on either side of said separator, facing extensions, having right angled ends, on said separator and side guides, pairs of facing die blocks fitting between said separator and side. guides and abutting at their facing ends against, the right angled ends of said extensions and means to retain said die blocks firmly against said extensions.

21. In a stamping and folding device in combination, a die bolster having a depression in the face thereof, a separator dividing said depression, said separator being mounted in grooved extensions of said depression, a pair of side guides against the edges of said depression, one on either side of and parallel to said separator, facing extensions on said side guides and separator forming shoulders, a pair of die blocks between each side guide and the separator having their facing ends abutting said shoulders, and means mounted in said bolster to press said dies against said shoulders.

22. In a stamping and folding device in combination, a die bolster having a depression in the face thereof, a separator dividing said depression, said separator being mounted in grooved extensions'of said depression, a pair of side guides against the edges of said depression, one on either side of and parallel to said separator, facing extensions on said side guides and separator forming shoulders, a pair of die blocks between each side guide and the separator having their facing ends abutting said shoulders, means mounted in said bolster to press said dies against said shoulders, the upper surfaces of said separator, side guides and dies being flush with the surface of said bolster and strippers covering said parts and retaining them in position.

23. Mechanism for making folded lock nuts, in combination means for feeding a strip of metal, a blanking die, a bending post beneath said die, an ejector, a blanking punch to cut a blank from said strip, means on said'punch cooperating with said bending post to bend the blank, blank transfer means, a swaging die having a tapered opening to receive said bent blank, a swaging punch mounted for cooperation with said die and a swaging anvil mounted for reciprocation in said die opening.

24. Mechanism for making folded lock nuts in combination means" for feeding a strip of metal, a blanking die, a bending post beneath said die, an ejector surrounding said bending post, a blanking punch adapted with said die to cut a blank from said strip, means on said punch cooperating with said bending post to bend said blank, a bending and swaging die having an opening with a tapered entrance and parallel sides, a swaging punch, a swaging anvil mounted for reciprocation in said opening, a stop limiting the downward movement of said anvil,

plunger, a guide tunnel and means reciprocating said plunger to transfer said bent blank through said tunnel to straddle said space blade.

25. Mechanism for making folded lock nuts in combination, a die bolster having a flat cruciform top, a pair of deep depressions in said bolster, a larger shallow depression connecting and forming an extension of said deep depressions, a bending post and spring pressed ejector having an enlarged base in said filSb deep depression, a spring pressed swaging anvil having an enlarged base in said second deep depression, a space blade, on the upper face of said anvil, a stop beneath said anvil, a plate in the bottom of said shallow depression apertured for said ejector and anvil and forming an upper stop for the enlarged bases thereof, a separator passing through said shallow depression and fitting in grooves in said bolster, side guides in said depression, against the sides thereof and parallel to said separator, facing extensions on said separator and side guides forming shoulders, die blocks between said separator and side guides and abutting said shoulders, means in said bolster forcing said blocks against said shoulders, said separator, side guides and die blocks outliningopenings for aid ejector and anvil respectively and having their tops flush with the top of said bol ter, a pair of facing strippers apertured over said ejector and anvil serving to retain said die parts in position, a tunnel through said strippers between said die openings, a

groove beneath one of said strippers for the feeding of stock to said first depression and dies, a stripper plug opposite said groove, a transfer slide, a transfer plunger thereon adapted to periodically move over said first depression and through said tunnel, a reciprocable punch holder, a blanking punch thereon adapted to cooperate with the opening defined by the dies over said first depression and with said bending post, a swaging punch thereon above said anvil and a cam on said punch holder cooperating with said transfer slide to reciprocate the same, a slide cap, a pair of stops, positive ejection means in said blanking punch and positive lifting means for said anvil.

26. Mechanism for making folded lock nuts including in combination, a blanking die, a bending post beneath said die, a blanking punch to cooperate with said die to cut a blank, means on said punch to cooperate with said bending post to bend the blank following the punching operation and a spring-pressed ejector surrounding said a space blade on'said anvil, a transfer bending postand normally beyond the bending end thereof.

27. Mechanism for punching and bending including in combination, two sets of dies laterally spaced and oppositely disposed, a die bolster retaining said dies and having a discharge opening between the two sets, means to feed stock to said dies in parallel paths, and means to move finished articles from said dies to said discharge opening.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CARL FREDERICK HAMMAN. 

